Autorizar Conjugation in Spanish
The Spanish verb autorizar means to authorise, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Autorizar means to authorise, and it covers authorising building work, authorising the use of a photo, authorising entry to a building and authorising the publication of a book. It is a spelling-change verb: the z becomes c before e, so the preterite is autoricé. Like every Spanish verb, autorizar changes its ending for each person and tense, and this page gives you the complete picture: every tense, every person, the gerund and the past participle, all from the verified conjugation tables. For example, in the present tense you say autorizo la obra en el centro, and in the preterite you say autoricé la entrada al edificio. Work through the tables below, read the notes for each tense, and then test yourself with the examples, the common mistakes and the quiz at the end of the page.
Quick facts
- Infinitive: autorizar
- English: to authorise
- Verb type: irregular verb
- Ending: -ar
- Gerund: autorizando
- Past participle: autorizado
- Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + autorizado)
Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for autorizar, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Spelling change: z becomes c before e, so the preterite is autoricé and the subjunctive is autorice.
Full conjugation tables
Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for autorizar. The imperfect subjunctive is shown in its -ra forms; the -se forms use the same stem. For reflexive verbs, the pronoun column shows the reflexive pronoun that goes before each form.
Present indicative
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | autorizo |
| tú | autorizas |
| él/ella/Ud. | autoriza |
| nosotros/as | autorizamos |
| vosotros/as | autorizáis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | autorizan |
Preterite
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | autoricé |
| tú | autorizaste |
| él/ella/Ud. | autorizó |
| nosotros/as | autorizamos |
| vosotros/as | autorizasteis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | autorizaron |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | autorizaba |
| tú | autorizabas |
| él/ella/Ud. | autorizaba |
| nosotros/as | autorizábamos |
| vosotros/as | autorizabais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | autorizaban |
Future
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | autorizaré |
| tú | autorizarás |
| él/ella/Ud. | autorizará |
| nosotros/as | autorizaremos |
| vosotros/as | autorizaréis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | autorizarán |
Conditional
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | autorizaría |
| tú | autorizarías |
| él/ella/Ud. | autorizaría |
| nosotros/as | autorizaríamos |
| vosotros/as | autorizaríais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | autorizarían |
Present perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | he autorizado |
| tú | has autorizado |
| él/ella/Ud. | ha autorizado |
| nosotros/as | hemos autorizado |
| vosotros/as | habéis autorizado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | han autorizado |
Pluperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | había autorizado |
| tú | habías autorizado |
| él/ella/Ud. | había autorizado |
| nosotros/as | habíamos autorizado |
| vosotros/as | habíais autorizado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habían autorizado |
Future perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habré autorizado |
| tú | habrás autorizado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habrá autorizado |
| nosotros/as | habremos autorizado |
| vosotros/as | habréis autorizado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrán autorizado |
Conditional perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habría autorizado |
| tú | habrías autorizado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habría autorizado |
| nosotros/as | habríamos autorizado |
| vosotros/as | habríais autorizado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrían autorizado |
Present subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | autorice |
| tú | autorices |
| él/ella/Ud. | autorice |
| nosotros/as | autoricemos |
| vosotros/as | autoricéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | autoricen |
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | autorizara |
| tú | autorizaras |
| él/ella/Ud. | autorizara |
| nosotros/as | autorizáramos |
| vosotros/as | autorizarais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | autorizaran |
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | autoriza |
| él/ella/Ud. | autorice |
| nosotros/as | autoricemos |
| vosotros/as | autorizad |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | autoricen |
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | autorices |
| él/ella/Ud. | autorice |
| nosotros/as | autoricemos |
| vosotros/as | autoricéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | autoricen |
Gerund and past participle
| Form | Spanish | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Gerund | autorizando | with estar for the progressive: estoy autorizando |
| Past participle | autorizado | with haber for the perfect tenses: he autorizado |
How to use each tense
Present indicative
Use the present for routines, general facts and what is happening right now. Note the spelling change here: z becomes c before e, so the forms keep the same sound as the infinitive. For autorizar, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Autorizo la obra en el centro. Learn the present forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Preterite
Use the preterite for finished actions with a clear end, often with ayer, el año pasado or anoche. Note the spelling change in the first person: z becomes c before e, so the preterite first person is autoricé. For autorizar, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, autoricé el uso de la foto. Learn the preterite forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Imperfect
Use the imperfect for background, habits and actions in progress in the past, often with de niño, antes or mientras. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For autorizar, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, autorizaba la entrada al edificio. Learn the imperfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Future
Use the future for plans, predictions and promises, often with mañana, el año que viene or pronto. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For autorizar, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, autorizaré la publicación del libro. Learn the future forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Conditional
Use the conditional for polite requests, hypotheticals and what would happen, often with si clauses. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For autorizar, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Autorizaría la obra en el centro si pudiera. Learn the conditional forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Present perfect
Use the present perfect for recent actions and experiences, often with hoy, esta semana or ya. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For autorizar, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he autorizado el uso de la foto. Learn the present perfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Pluperfect
Use the pluperfect when one past action happened before another past action. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For autorizar, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había autorizado la entrada al edificio antes de salir. Learn the pluperfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Future perfect
Use the future perfect for something that will already be finished by a future time. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For autorizar, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré autorizado la publicación del libro. Learn the future perfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Conditional perfect
Use the conditional perfect for what would have happened under different conditions. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For autorizar, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría autorizado la obra en el centro con más tiempo. Learn the conditional perfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Present subjunctive
Use the present subjunctive after expressions of wish, doubt, emotion and hope, such as espero que or quiero que. Note the spelling change here: z becomes c before e, so the forms keep the same sound as the infinitive. For autorizar, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él autorice el uso de la foto. Learn the present subjunctive forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
Use the imperfect subjunctive after past wishes and in si clauses about the past, and note the -ra forms shown here; the -se forms use the same stem. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For autorizar, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él autorizara la entrada al edificio, todo cambiaría. Learn the imperfect subjunctive forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Imperative (affirmative)
Use the affirmative imperative for direct commands, instructions and invitations. Note the spelling change here: z becomes c before e, so the forms keep the same sound as the infinitive. For autorizar, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡Autoriza la publicación del libro! Learn the affirmative imperative forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Imperative (negative)
Use the negative imperative, always with no, to tell someone not to do something. Note the spelling change here: z becomes c before e, so the forms keep the same sound as the infinitive. For autorizar, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No autorices la obra en el centro. Learn the negative imperative forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Example sentences
Ten natural sentences with autorizar, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.
- Autorizo la obra en el centro. — I authorise the work in the centre.
- Autoriza el uso de la foto. — He/she authorises the use of the photo.
- Ayer, autoricé la entrada al edificio. — Yesterday, I authorised entry to the building.
- Antes, nosotros autorizábamos la publicación del libro. — Before, we used to authorise the publication of the book.
- Mañana, tú autorizarás la obra en el centro. — Tomorrow, you will authorise the work in the centre.
- Yo autorizaría el uso de la foto si tuviera más tiempo. — I would authorise the use of the photo if I had more time.
- Él ha autorizado la entrada al edificio. — He has authorised entry to the building.
- Espero que él autorice la publicación del libro. — I hope he authorises the publication of the book.
- Yo ya había autorizado la obra en el centro antes de salir. — I had already authorised the work in the centre before leaving.
- Ellos autorizaban el uso de la foto cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to authorise the use of the photo when they were young.
Common mistakes
- Wrong: Yo autoriza la obra en el centro. — Right: Yo autorizo la obra en el centro. — The person matters: autoriza is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is autorizo. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
- Wrong: Yo autorizé el uso de la foto. — Right: Yo autoricé el uso de la foto. — In the preterite, the correct first-person form is autoricé, not autorizé. autorizar is a spelling-change verb: z becomes c before e, so the written form changes to keep the same sound. The regular-looking form is wrong.
- Wrong: Treating autorizar and permitir as identical in every context. — Right: Autorizar means to authorise, while permitir means to allow, the close verb. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: autorizar fits sentences such as Autorizo la obra en el centro, while permitir belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
- Wrong: Yo soy autorizado el uso de la foto. — Right: Yo he autorizado el uso de la foto. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he autorizado, has autorizado, ha autorizado. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
- Wrong: De niño, yo autoricé la entrada al edificio todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo autorizaba la entrada al edificio todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (autorizaba), not the preterite. The preterite (autoricé) is for one finished action.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on autorizar. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ la obra en el centro. (present tense) A. autorizo B. autorizas C. autoriza D. autorizamos
Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ el uso de la foto. (preterite) A. autoricé B. autorizaste C. autorizaron D. autorizó
Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ la entrada al edificio. (imperfect) A. autorizabas B. autorizaban C. autorizábamos D. autorizaba
Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ la publicación del libro. (future) A. autorizaremos B. autorizarás C. autorizaré D. autorizará
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ la obra en el centro si pudiera. (conditional) A. autorizaría B. autorizarías C. autorizarían D. autorizo
Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ el uso de la foto. (present subjunctive) A. autorices B. autoricemos C. autorizo D. autorice
Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ la entrada al edificio, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. autorizáramos B. autorizo C. autorizara D. autorizaras
Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ la publicación del libro. (present perfect) A. han autorizado B. hemos autorizado C. he autorizado D. has autorizado
Complete the command: ¡___ la obra en el centro! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. autoriza B. autorice C. autoricemos D. autorizad
Which is the gerund of autorizar, used with estar for the progressive? A. autorizado B. autorizo C. autoricé D. autorizando
Answer key
- autorizo — The first-person present of autorizar is autorizo. The other options are the tú, él/ella and nosotros forms.
- autorizó — The third-person preterite of autorizar is autorizó, the form for a single finished action in the past.
- autorizábamos — The nosotros imperfect of autorizar is autorizábamos, used here for a repeated past habit.
- autorizarás — The second-person future of autorizar is autorizarás.
- autorizaría — The first-person conditional of autorizar is autorizaría, the form for what would happen.
- autorice — After espero que, the subjunctive is required: the third-person present subjunctive of autorizar is autorice.
- autorizara — The first-person imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of autorizar is autorizara.
- hemos autorizado — The nosotros present perfect of autorizar is hemos autorizado: hemos + autorizado.
- autoriza — The affirmative tú imperative of autorizar is autoriza.
- autorizando — The gerund of autorizar is autorizando: estoy autorizando. The participle autorizado is used with haber instead.
Frequently asked questions
What does autorizar mean in English?
Autorizar means to authorise. It is used in everyday situations such as Autorizo la obra en el centro. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.
Is autorizar regular or irregular?
Autorizar is a fully regular -ar verb, so every tense follows the standard endings for its class. Once you know the regular pattern, you can produce every form on this page, including autorizo in the present and autoricé in the preterite.
What is the difference between autorizar and permitir?
Autorizar means to authorise, while permitir means to allow, the close verb. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use autorizar when you mean to authorise, as in Autorizo la obra en el centro, and use permitir for to allow, the close verb. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.
How do I say “I authorise” in the past?
It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo autoricé el uso de la foto. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo autorizaba la entrada al edificio. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he autorizado el uso de la foto.
How do I practise autorizar?
Start with the present tense table, then drill the preterite and the imperfect, since those two past tenses cause the most mistakes. Try the autorizar examples and quiz page for more sentences, and use the Spanish Verb Quiz to test the forms under pressure.
Related links
- Autorizar in the present tense — the full present-tense table for autorizar.
- Autorizar examples and quiz — more example sentences and practice for autorizar.
- Spanish verbs — the Spanish hub, with every verb and tense guide.
- Analizar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with autorizar.
- Utilizar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with autorizar.
- Bautizar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with autorizar.
- Spanish Verb Conjugator — conjugate any Spanish verb in every tense.
- Spanish Verb Quiz — test yourself on real conjugated forms.